Sex Toys, Oral Sex, Masturbation and Anal Sex During Pregnancy

Most sex toys and moves are perfectly safe during pregnancy, with a few caveats.

Wondering if sex toys, oral sex, masturbation and everything in between (the sheets, that is) are okay when you're expecting? As long as your practitioner has given the go-ahead for vaginal penetration and orgasm (which are, rarely, off-limits for a number of reasons), self-pleasuring, conventional sex and less vanilla sexual activities can be perfectly safe. Just stick to these basic rules of the road, and you and your baby will be fine.

Vibrators, Dildos and Other Sex Toys During Pregnancy

Sex toys like dildos and vibrators are safe during pregnancy. After all, they're just mechanical versions of the real thing — though make sure that anything you introduce into the vagina is clean before you use it.

Silicone toys that don’t vibrate can be cleaned by boiling for five to 10 minutes or putting in the top rack of the dishwasher; for those that do vibrate, wash in warm water with antibacterial soap for about 20 seconds (special cleaning instructions should be followed for those made of other materials, including hard plastic, rubber, nylon and leather).

While it’s always smart to avoid penetrating the vagina too deeply with a sex toy (and you should never use one with sharp edges that cause you pain), you don’t need to worry about piercing the placenta or hurting the baby. The mucous plug in your cervix safely seals off the uterus — and your little one — from the outside world.

Masturbation During Pregnancy

Unless orgasm is off the table because of a high-risk pregnancy or concerns about premature labor, masturbating during pregnancy, either solo or with your partner, is perfectly safe — and a great way to release any extra tension you're feeling.

Oral Sex During Pregnancy

Oral sex can be a good alternative to vaginal sex if your doctor has prohibited penetration — and licking, sucking and tongue penetration are all perfectly fine when you’re expecting as long as you have your practitioner's approval to orgasm. But avoid blowing into the vagina during pregnancy, since it can lead to an air embolism (when an air bubble enters a vein or artery and blocks it, which can cause a heart attack, stroke or respiratory failure).

Oral stimulation of the penis is also safe during pregnancy, as is swallowing semen.

Anal Sex During Pregnancy

As long as your doctor signs off on regular sex and you’re not suffering from hemorrhoids, anal sex is probably safe during pregnancy — just proceed through the back door very gently, and with caution. That means following the same rules you adhered to before you were pregnant. The most important one? Never go from anal to vaginal sex without cleaning up first, or you could risk introducing harmful bacteria into your vagina that could infect you and your baby.

The good news about sex during pregnancy: Almost anything that feels good for you is generally safe for your baby, as long as you have your doctor’s okay. And to that end, don’t worry that your fetus is “watching” — while the baby might be lulled by uterine contractions during orgasm, he can’t see what you’re doing and definitely won't remember it.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

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What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel.